The Flying Missile (1950) User Reviews

A moralistic McHale's Navy

[bigdinosaur · 6/10 · 25 July 2004]

Of course McHale's Navy didn't appear until over a decade after this movie was made, but there are elements of this movie that remind me of McHale's Navy...stealing supplies, crewmen horsing around. The attempts at comedy were largely unsuccessful however.

This movie involves the implementation of Commander Talbot's (Glenn Ford) vision of missiles being launched from submarines. And he, and his crew, go through major contortions (a la McHale's Navy style) to get this accomplished. Of course, while so occupied, romance intervenes. And the girl's (Viveca Lindfors) father is a major stumbling block. He is a pacifist who is strongly against the commander's efforts.

Although slow moving, this film is still quite watchable. The acting is fair and the story is reasonable. It is obviously pro-military and I'm sure heartily embraced by the Dept. of Defense. For the amount of money which appears to have been spent on this production...very little...it turned out fairly well.

Although this is not a war movie per se, fans of WW2 era material will probably enjoy this one. My vote: 6 out of 10.

This film is in my 16mm collection and is quite old with various splices which makes it difficult to do a decent technical analysis. Additionally 16mm films are generally limited to mono sound tracks and substandard sound fidelity. If this film is available on video or DVD, I am unaware of it.

Blue Fin

[richardchatten · 7/10 · 6 May 2020]

Paradoxically this early Cold War public information film masquerading as a feature would probably have worked better had less money been spent on it.

The basic storyline about launching missiles from cruisers is absorbing enough without the lengthy romantic and melodramatic digressions inserted into it without adding much to the film other than it's running time; while the casting of veteran character actors like John Qualen as Viveca Lindfors' 'comical' uncle and Henry O'Neill as her warm-hearted boss further heighten the old-fashioned feel of the piece.

"The last time you asked me to dance they bombed Pearl Harbour"

[hwg1957-102-265704 · 6/10 · 28 November 2020]

A determined sea captain uses unorthodox means to make possible his ideas of missiles being launched from submarines. I liked the naval part of the story with solid Glenn Ford as Captain Talbot and well chosen character actors in support as his loyal crew. The romantic sub-plot though was not really necessary and is the weakest part of the movie. There was stock footage as the budget was low but it looked convincing to these civilian eyes. There was also good bits of subtle humour. When the captain visits the base to obtain some missiles the bureaucracy and sense of rank are satirically portrayed. An absorbing film if the subject matter of early missile research interests you. Which recommends it to me but possibly not to all.

Making war in peacetime and not entirely successfully

[clanciai · 7/10 · 6 December 2020]

The film is worth watching for Viveca Lindfors, who plays the most important part, in cajoling a war invalid back to life. That's the only human part of this war chronicle. It's all about testing missiles, and both Glenn Ford and Viveca Lindfors are agreed that this missle business is just awful, they just heartily dislike it, and so does her uncle. Still they go through with the project, Viveca losing her job in the bargain and Glenn ending up a cripple, but the interesting bit is how he returns to life in spite of his bitterness, total frustration and sense of guilt because of the loss of the life of his closest mate, for which he blames himself, and he is not altogether wrong in doing so. One small mistake in precarious ventures like this, and it can all go to blazes, which it does, but Viveca saves the situation. It's a rather humdrum ordinary cliché-kind sort of chronicle of no special interest, while you have to admit that Viveca Lindfors at least is beautiful.

Glen Ford Wants Missiles And Miss Lindfors

[boblipton · 6/10 · 26 September 2023]

Submarine commander Glen Ford wants in on the new guided missile program that Admiral Henry O'Neill is trying to get funding for. Ford also wants O'Neill's secretary, Viveca Lindfors. Neither goal is as easy to attain as he imagines, despite the conniving of his quartermaster, Joe Sawyer.

Glen Ford always looks realistic in a Naval uniform, even though he was a Marine during the Second World War. As for the impulse behind this movie, I suspect that the cooperation of the Navy was motivated in part to get Congressional funding for their guided missile program. Although the script goes pretty gar into the sacrifices-our-boys-make-for-this-country territory, it's mostly standard fare with some good shots of missiles taking off and passing over a flotilla. Director Henry gets good performances out of a cast that includes John Qualen, Jerry Paris, and Paul Harvey.

A court martial offense

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 31 October 2014]

When the Department of Defense signed on for cooperation in making The Flying Missile I'm not sure if anyone read the story. What Glenn Ford does in this film should have been a court martial offense and rated him being drummed out of the Navy.

Also a great opportunity was missed showing how the discoveries in rocketry by our late opponents in World War II were now being put to use in our country's defense.

Glenn Ford is cast as a submarine commander who develops an obsession with firing rockets from submarines and pushes to get himself assigned to a developing program at Point Mugu, California. As a sideline he develops an interest in Admiral Henry O'Neill's secretary Viveca Lindfors.

But mainly he's interested in being the first to test fire a missile from a submarine. So interested is Ford that he ignores all kinds of protocols and procedures. Something happens on the first test and he loses Joe Sawyer his CPO on the submarine.

I'm sorry, but in the real Navy he would have been court marshaled and drummed out of the service. The Pentagon would also have been looking at Henry O'Neill's conduct as well who acts like an indulgent rich uncle with Ford instead of a commanding officer.

Glenn what were you thinking when you signed on for this?

The Flying Missile

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 28 December 2022]

I don't know about you, but I always found Glenn Ford a rather dull actor to watch. He wasn't bad, just unremarkable - and this maritime adventure sort of confirms that. He is a determined (bolshy) US Naval Commander who is convinced of the merits of launching missiles from submarines - despite scepticism from the upper echelons - and so sets out to coax, cajole and bulldoze his theories through. Viveca Lindfors "Karin" provides the love interest, and indirectly some of the conflict as her father is a devout pacifist. The end result is never in jeopardy and to a certain extent the film smacks of willy-waving at the Soviets in the immediate (1950) aftermath of WWII - with scant regard to fact. I tend to like submarine adventure films (usually because they are exciting and there is normally an absence of slushy love scenes) but this doesn't really satisfy either of my criteria and so whilst it's not rotten, it's almost as bad - it's bland.

Kind of dull, actually.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 21 March 2015]

Despite the presence of Glenn Ford, "The Flying Missile" is an awfully dull film. And, although the title makes it sound as if it's a sci- fi movie, it isn't.

The film is a boring story about some folks on a sub who insist that they learn to incorporate missiles onto their ship. But, this isn't done so they all go to missile training school. Along the way, their commander (Ford) strikes up a relationship with a not particularly interesting lady.

During the course of this film, you'll see a lot of stock footage that is often crappily assembled. For example, you'll see a Bearcat airplane without a large droptank (for fuel)--yet when it's in mid- air, it has one. And, when it lands, it's missing. Also, you'll see a V-2 style missile become some other sort of missile after it's launched! And, a jet chase plane, in some shots, sports propellers!! Talk about sloppy and indifferent to continuity.

So, what you have is a dull film with worthless footage. Need I say more?

A farcical film

[terrydalley-24095 · 4/10 · 28 June 2020]

Disapline in theUSA non existent ado as you like on atop secret base What a waste of a great cast and a show up for the USA forces Walt Disney where were you

DULL...LACKLUSTER...PROPAGANDA...ASSEMBLY-LINE...BY-THE-BOOK...NON-ENTITY

[LeonLouisRicci · 1/10 · 17 August 2021]

It Never Ceases to Amaze.

The Parade of Never-Ending Boasting from the Governmental Influence on Hollywood in the Post-WWII Years.

Taking Victory-Lap After Victory-Lap at the Expense of Good Taste and Humility.

Yes We (the Allies) Defeated Evil in Another Us vs Them Slaughter for the Sake of Saving Humanity from Itself.

We Won the War...Hurrah.

A Good Example of the Hollywood Unbridled Assault on Movie-Goer Sensibility and Tolerance,

is those Prolog "Government is Your Friend" Embarrassments that got Tacked-On Otherwise Good Movies.

Some "Authority Figure" Reading from Cue-Cards About this and that to Pacify and Glorify.

Back to this Movie.

It is a Forgotten-Film and Deserves the Neglect.

Wasting Glen Ford and other Valuable Resources the Movie Plays-Out Like a Military Training Short.

Void of Creativity and Any Entertainment Value.

File this One in the Dust-Bin of Hollywood History with those Other Obsoletes.

Because this Contains Absolutely Nothing Worth Anyone's Time..